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Feeling drained? Check your thyroid, advise experts

“Women are seven to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems."

Dubai — “Approximately up to 30 per cent of those with thyroid diseases are unaware of their condition,” said Dr Mohammed Abdullatif, endocrinologist at Dubai Hospital said, on Thursday. “Women are seven to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. However, men are more likely to have severe forms of this disease,” he added. The information was passed on to the public as part of the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) ‘smart clinic’ to raise awareness ont the importance of early detection and treatment of thyroid problems.

Excess or insufficient thyroid hormone can cause the body’s functions to slow down or speed up excessively, both of which cause complications, doctors from DHA said via Twitter on #smart_clinic page (DHA_Dubai) on Thursday.

Information was disseminated to more than 70,000 people.

Abdullatif said the endocrinology department at Dubai Hospital sees approximately 300 patients per month for hypothyroidism and approximately 100 patients for hyperthyroidism. This includes new and follow-up cases.

“Hypothyroidism is a disorder that occurs when the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroxine hormone. Other thyroid problems include thyroid nodules and cancer. Some newborn babies have congenital hypothyroidism (CH), which is a condition in which thyroid hormone deficiency is present at birth. In the UAE, due to mandatory newborn screening, these cases are detected immediately. In such cases, babies need to take the thyroxin hormone on a daily basis for life.”

The thyroid hormone regulates metabolism — the way the body uses energy — and affects nearly every organ in the body.

Abdullatif said the reason for late detection of hypothyroidism is the very slow progression of symptoms.

He said the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary, depending on the severity of deficiency. But in general, the symptoms develop slowly and therefore are generally missed during the initial stages.

“At first, symptoms include fatigue and weight gain. But as metabolism continues to slow down, the patient experiences more symptoms like, hair fall, dry skin, puffy face, constipation, menstrual disturbances, infertility, higher chances of miscarriage, depression and impaired memory.”

In hyperthyroidism, symptoms include sudden weight loss, rapid heartbeat (palpitations), changes in menstrual patterns, increased sensitivity to heat, trembling of hands, bulging of eyes, an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) and anxiety and nervousness. In terms of detection, a simple blood test is sufficient to diagnose hypothyroidism while for hyperthyroidism, it is a blood test and thyroid scan.

While treatment for hypothyroidism is essentially taking thyroxin tablets for life, that for hyperthyroidism include medications, iodine therapy or surgery.

Dr Elamin Ibrahim, endocrinologist at the Dubai Hospital, said because the disease often goes undetected for a long period of time, it is important to conduct yearly screening, if patients experience the commonly mentioned symptoms or if they have certain risk factors like hereditary predisposition or swelling in the neck. Women, particularly those who experience menstrual disturbances or those who are facing problems in conception must get their thyroid levels checked. Women with Type 1 diabetes should also regularly check their thyroid levels.

 “Thyroid problems can cause infertility and in pregnant women who have co-existing thyroid disease, it increases the chances of  miscarriage. Therefore, women, who are planning pregnancy or are in the early stages of pregnancy, must get their thyroid levels checked.”

Ibrahim added that people who experience an increase in the size of their thyroid glands must get a thyroid scan to check if they have any thyroid nodules, which are usually benign but a biopsy is highly recommended to exclude cancer.

 reporters@khaleejtimes.com